Not too late for Govt to embrace clean energy
As the deadline for submissions on Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee’s Draft Energy Strategy draws to a close
(at 5pm Thursday), Greenpeace is telling the Government that it is not too late to embrace the global Clean Energy
revolution – in fact the timing’s perfect.
“It is clear from Mr Brownlee’s energy strategy, which reads like a love letter to fossil fuels - he even once described
coal as ‘sexy - that he has missed the fact that we are about to trigger a state of runaway climate change,“ says
Greenpeace Senior Climate Campaigner Simon Boxer.
“In his 19th century-style rush to cash up New Zealand’s mineral reserves, Gerry Brownlee is also risking a Gulf of
Mexico-style oil disaster, which would destroy our invaluable clean green reputation.
“But he’s also in danger of letting New Zealand miss out on an extraordinary opportunity,” says Boxer.
With global investment in Clean Energy eclipsing fossil fuels for the second year in a row - President Obama has pledged
US$69 billion (NZ$98 billion) on Clean Energy initiatives by the end of 2011 - the time’s ripe for New Zealand to
harness its abundant renewable energy, smart ideas and scientific know-how to put Kiwi companies at the front of the
clean technology race and grow New Zealand’s prosperity in the bargain.
“Instead of trying to resuscitate the fossil fuel industry, why not give a leg-up to those home grown innovators who
will help define the future? What if Richard Pearce – the kiwi aviation pioneer – had been better supported? The world
would celebrate his name instead of the Wright Brothers. Many other equally brilliant kiwi innovators will wither on the
vine under this Government’s stewardship,” says Boxer.
“Most importantly, in backing Clean Energy innovation we’ll stand a good chance of making the sort of cuts to our
emissions that are essential if the world is to avoid a state of runaway climate change,” Boxer says.
Some of New Zealand’s Clean Energy companies include Designline International, who are producing revolutionary hybrid
turbine buses; Windflow Technology, who are designing some of the world’s most efficient wind turbine technologies; and
HTS 110, who are designing world-class, super-efficient systems for transmitting renewable energy. All are examples of
the sort of ingenuity for which this country is justifiably famous.
As of Thursday afternoon, Greenpeace supporters had made in excess of 3388 submissions on the Energy Strategy, calling
on the Government to abandon coal and oil in favour of a Clean Energy future.
ENDS